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TAMPA, Fla. (CBSNewYork) — The Republican presidential nominee spent Thursday night on the national stage focusing on how, in his opinion, President Barack Obama has failed to deliver on the promise of “Hope” and “Change.”

After accepting the GOP nomination for president, Mitt Romney turned to criticism of Obama, saying the time had “come for us to put the disappointments of the last four years behind us.”

“Now is the time to restore the promise of America,” Romney added.

He continued on with his criticism, while asking Americans to give his candidacy a chance.

“I wish President Obama had succeeded because I want America to succeed. But his promises gave way to disappointment and division. This isn’t something we have to accept. Now is the moment when we can do something. With your help we will do something,” Romney said.

Speaking from a re-built stage that pushed the podium to the center of the floor so he could stand among the crowd in Tampa as he spoke, Romney offered his vision of what his presidency will look like, CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reported.

Romney outlined a 5-step plan, that included energy independence and forging new trade agreements, that he said would create 12 million new jobs.

“If I am elected President of these United States, I will work with all my energy and soul to restore that America, to lift our eyes to a better future,” Romney said.

The former governor of Massachusetts, who talked about growing up in Michigan, tried to offered optimism to a country depressed by years of economic hardship.

“I am running for president to help create a better future, a future where everyone who wants a job can find one. Where no senior fears for the security of their retirement, an America where every child knows that their child will get an education that leads them to a good job and a bright horizons,” Romney said.

Romney also tried to tell some personal stories about himself in an effort to erase an image of what some say is a stiff and distant businessman and politician. That effort included a carefully scripted video about his life and a parade of people talking about Romney — or what his campaign called character witnesses.

“I grew up in Detroit in love with cars and wanted to be a car guy, like my dad. But by the time I was out of school, I realized that I had to go out on my own, that if I stayed around Michigan in the same business, I’d never really know if I was getting a break because of my dad. I wanted to go someplace new and prove myself,” Romney said.

But the overarching message was that President Obama had failed and it was time for new leadership to take the country forward.

“This president can ask us to be patient. This president can tell us it was someone else’s fault. This president can tell us that the next four years he’ll get it right. But this president cannot tell us that you are better off today than when he took office,” Romney said.

What did you think of Romney’s speech? Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below …